Machine for forming heel seats in the manufacture of shoes



May 5, 1942. 402A 2,282,134

MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS IN THE MANUFACTURE SHOES Filed April 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 5, 1942. n J. HOZA 2,282,134

MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed April 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEATS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES John Hoza, Belcamp, Md.

Application April 20, 1940, Serial No. 330,779 In Czechoslovakia October 6, 1938 12 Claims. This invention relates to machines for forming heel seats in the manufacture of shoes, boots and such like articles of footwear (hereinafter and in the claims referred to as shoes) and more particularly to devices for holding or gripping shoes vertically or nearly vertically, to provide a con-,

vexly rounded surface on which the heel is placed and a shoulder against which the front side of the heel abuts.

Previously known machines of the kind stated are subject to certain disadvantages. One dis-y advantage is that the location of a shoe in a machine may be inexact, because shoes are held in the machine at the rounded heel-portion of the shoe-holding last, so that with even a slight downward inclination of the shoe, it is possible {1 to push the lasted shoe further than desirable into the machine, and therefore a heel seat longer than desirable is cut in the sole.

As the location of shoes in the machine is not visible, the work of locating a shoe accurately;

involves strength and attentiveness on the part of the operator.

The act of locating a shoe must also be accompanied by care that the shoe is accurately centralised in order to ensure that the subsequent attachments to the heel seat will be correctly aligned. The work of centralising shoes, when done by hand, involves estimation by the operator, so that quite frequently it happens that a heel when afiixed to the seat portion of a solesions whereby the disadvantages stated w ll be obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for holding a lasted shoe in readiness to be advanced into the operative location in the machine. The improved device comprises an abutment engageable by a lasted shoe, a-last-gripper which is movablein relation to the abutment and which is adapted to engage the last on which the shoe is placed and a manually operable means which when actuated causes the gripper to force the lasted shoe resiliently against the abutment.

Another object is to provide in a machine having a heel gauge-that is, a measuring device which is adjusted to suit the length of the heel to be affixed to the heel seat-an adjustable stop device for limiting to a regulatable extent the movement of the shoe-holding device, said stop device being adjusted in association with the heel device so that the shoe-holding device will be advanced into the machine to an extent exactly commensurate with the heel length.

Another object is to provide the shoe-holding device, in proximity to the abutment, with soleengaging members which are simultaneously and equally adjustable to and from one another in,

order to centralise the lasted shoe in the shoeholding device.

.Another object is to provide an ejector for ejecting the waste material cut from the sole in the formation of the heel seat, such ejector to be controlled by a cam device acting automatically to maintain the ejector operative during Withdrawal of the shoe-holding device with the lasted shoe from the machine and to render the ejector unobstructive during the advance and cutting of the next lasted shoe.

Another object is to provide a signal or indicator which is actuated whenever a lasted shoe is advanced fully to the operative position, as determined by the stop device. Thus, the operator receives instantaneously an indication that the work is located all in readiness for the formation of a heel seat of the correct length.

Another object is to provide a shoe-holding device comprising as main components a carrier guided by the machine frame for movement to and from the machine and a support mounted in the carrier to move in a direction transverse to the movement thereof. The abutment, last-gripper and centralising members are mounted on said support, and the ejector and a striker, forming an element of the stop device, are mounted on said carrier.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from. the following specification and claims.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a shoe-holding device with a shoe stretched on it and in a machine for shaping out the heel seat.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan.

Figs. 3 and 4 are a sectional side view and a front elevation, respectively, of a fork assembly of the shoe-holding device.

In the example shown, the shoe-holding device has a hand grip I, which is provided rigidly with an actuating element or look 2 of cam-form and which is pivotally attached by a pin 3 to a fork 4. A last-holding gripper, constituted as a pin 5 is movably mounted in the shank of the fork. At its outer end, the gripper pin is formed to fit neatly against the heel portion of a last 6 incorporated in the shoe-holding device. At its inner end, the pin 5 is pressed upon by a spring I, which is inserted into the interior of the shank of the fork 4. Moreover, the fork is pivotally attached by a pin 8 to a slide or support 9 which is mounted on a carrier [0. The slide 9 is movable downwards by a presser 39 in opposition to upwardly directed spring action. The slide 9 has mounted on it two inturned fingers II which serve to centralise the shoe l3 and which are for this purpose adjustable to the requisite sole breadth, according to the style of the shoe, by

means of a screw 12 (Fig. 2) serving to adjust the fingers ll simultaneously and equally to and from the central axis of the machine. The slide 9 also has angle brackets 34 which constitute an abutment against which the edge of the shoe i3 is forced by the action of the lock 2 to effect the requisite holding or gripping of the shoe in the desired location.

The carrier It! has two guide tubes I4, which are guided by lugs l5 on the frame of the machine for toand-fro movement, so that the shoeholding device can be located for the work of shaping out the heel seat. Moreover, the carrier l0 has a projection I6 into which a striker I1 is screwed. Motion-transmission means in the form of a two-armed lever 18, which is fulcrumed on the frame of the machine, co-operates at one end with the striker IT and has at the other end an electrically insulated contact H) which cooperates with another contact 20. This other contact is carried by an adjustable measuring or gauge screw 35 forming the adjustable element of a heel gauge 4% This heel gauge, which as regards its other features is not shown, may be of known construction. The screw 35 consitutes a limit stop to limit turning movement of the lever H! by the striker l1. Setting of the contact 28 is effected by the adjustment screw 35. The contacts I9 and 20 are connected in the electric circuit of the heel gauge 40. The arrangement is such that the contacts I9, 20 are adapted to close the electric circuit and thus cause an electric incandescent lamp 22 in said circuit to be lit. The lamp 22 constitutes a signal or indicator.

On the carrier i a guide 23 is provided for an ejector of the waste material or cutting from the sole at the heel seat. The ejector comprises fingers 21 which are pivotally attached by a pin 32 to a head 30 on a rod 24 which is freely slidable in the guide 23. The fingers 2| are pressed upwards by small springs (not shown) to an extent limited by adjustment screws 33, and they are arranged to co-operate with a former 38. The foot of the rod 24 carries a cam roller, the axle-pin of which is shown at 25 (Fig. 1). This roller works in a cam which is formed as a groove in a control block 21 fastened to the frame. The cam is divided into upper and lower tracks by a switch member 28 which is pivotally attached by a pin 29 to the block 21. The switch device 28 has mutually inclined oppositely extending portions and is spring-urged to adopt the position shown (Fig. 1).

The machine has knives 36, 31 for cutting into the sole to an extent desired for the length of the heel seat. I

The mechanism operates in the manner now to be described.

The lasted shoe i3 is located in the holding device in such a way that the edge at the heel abuts against the angle-bracket abutment 34. The operator turns the hand grip l upwards into the Fig. 3 position. The actuating element or lock 2 accordingly presses the gripper pin 5 upwards, the intermediate spring I in the interior of the shank of the fork 4 being compressed. The pin 5 is thus caused to engage with the adjacent edge of the last 6, and so the last and shoe are pressed upwards and the edge of the shoe is pressed against the abtutment 34. The arrow S indicates the line of pressure, due to the pin 5, of the shoe at the point of engagement thereof with the abutment 34. Thus it is ensured that there is correct location, on which depends the correct measurement or gauging of the length of the cut in the sole according to the length of the heel mounted on the heel gauge 40.- During the action of locating and holding the shoe, the shoe is centralised by means of the fingers ll.

As soon as the shoe is properly held and centralised in the shoe-holding device, the operator pushes the device in the usual way into the machine to such an extent that finally the striker l'i strikes against the lever [B and causes the contact l9 to close against the contact 20, which is set in position as determined by the gauge screw 35. Thus the lamp 22 is lit in the final position of the shoe. This is an indication that the shoe has been inserted into the machine to the correct extent and. that the knives 36, 31 will cut into the sole to the correctly gauged length. The operator may now set the machine in operation by depressing the usual foot lever or treadle.

After the heel seat has been cut in the sole by the knives 36, 31, the shoe-holding device with the shoe thereon is withdrawn from the machine. Complete withdrawal of the shoe-holding device from the machine is prevented by a screw or the like (not shown) which is secured to the carrier H). The withdrawal of the device causes'the cam roller on the rod 24 to travel into and along the upper cam track 26 of the control block 21, so that the rod 24 is forced upwards and the ejector fingers 2| pressed into the opening in the former 38 where they engage the waste material cut from the sole and force it out of the former. The operator may now depress the hand grip I. This causes release of the last-holding pin 5 and so the lasted shoe may be removed.

When another lasted shoe is put into the holding device and moved into the machine, the cam roller of the ejector rod 24 travels into and along the lower cam track 28' of the control block 21, the pivotal switch member 28 being forced by the roller to pivot out of its path. Thus, the ejector fingers 2| return below the former 38 and do not obstruct the cutting of the sole by the adjacent knife 31..

I claim:

1. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame and means for cutting material from the shoe sole; a shoe-holding device comprising a carrier, guides on said carrier guided by said frame for movement of said carrier towardsand from the machine, a slide mounted in said carrier for up and down displacement, angle members on said slide, said members constituting in abutment, a forked component pivotally attached to said slide, an actuating element which is mounted on said forked component and. is manually turnable to and from a. locking position, a last-gripper movably mounted in said forked component and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon, and spring means interposed between said actuating element and said gripper to cause said gripper to force the last and shoe thereon upwardly against said abutment whenever said actuating element occupies its locking position, in.combination with a stop device for limiting movement of said carrier with the lasted shoe, said stop device comprising a striker moving with said carrier, a lever fulcrumed on the frame and turnable by said striker, and a limit stop engageable by said lever.

2. In a heel seat forming machine, the combination claimed by claim 1 including also means for centralising a lasted shoe, said centralising means comprising sole-engaging lateral members mounted on said slide and means for adjusting said members simultaneously and equally to and from a central axis.

3. In a heel seat forming machine, the combination claimed by claim 1 including also means for ejecting material cut from a shoe sole to form therein a heel seat, said ejecting means comprising a rod mounted for upward and downward displacement in said carrier, ejector fingers pivotally mounted at the head of said rod, a cam follower at the foot of said rod, and a cam device mounted on the frame and engaged by said follower, said cam device serving to lift said fingers to an operative level during withdrawal of said carrier in the direction away from themachine and serving also to lower said fingers to an inoperative level during advance of said carrier in the direction towards the machine.

4. In a heel seat forming machine, the combination claimed in claim 1 including also an electric signal, electric leads connected to said signal and interchangeable electric contacts to which said leads are also connected, one of said contacts being on said lever and the other of said contacts being formed as said stop.

5. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame and means for removing material from the shoe sole, a shoe-holding device comprising the combination of a carrier guided by said frame for movement towards and from the machine, a support movably mounted on said carrier, an abutment on said support, a last-gripper movably mounted in connection with said support and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon, manually operable means for causing said gripper to force the last and shoe thereon against said abutment and a stop device for limiting movement of said carrier with the lasted shoe.

6. In a heel seat forming machine, the combination claimed by claim 5 in which said stop device comprises a striker moving with said carrier, motion-transmission means movable by said striker, and a limit stop engageable by said motion-transmission means.

'7. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame, a shoeholding device guided by said frame for movement towards and from the machine, said device comprising an abutment, lateral sole-engaging members mounted in proximity to said abutment, a last-gripper mounted in connection with said sole-engaging members for movement in relation to said abutment, said last-gripper being adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon, means for adjusting said sole-engaging members simultaneously and equally to and from one another to centralise the lasted shoe, and means against said abutment, and a 'stopdevice for limiting movement of said shoe-holding device with the centralised lasted shoe.

8. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame and means for cutting material from the shoe sole, a shoe-holding device guided by said frame for movement, said device comprising a carrier, a support movably mounted on said carrier, an abutment on said support, a last-gripper movably mounted on said carrier and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon and means for causing said gripper to force the lasted shoe against said abutment, a stop device for limiting movement of said shoe-holding device with the lasted shoe towards the machine, and means for ejecting material cut from the shoe sole by said cutting means, said ejecting means comprising an ejector movably mounted on said carrier and a cam on the frame engaged by said ejector, said cam serving to move said ejector towards said cutting means in movement of said shoe-holding device in the direction away from the machine and to return said ejector clear of said cutting means in movement of said shoe-holding device in the opposite direction.

9. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame, a shoeholding device guided by said frame for movement towards and from the machine, said device comprising an abutment, a last-gripper movably mounted in relation to said abutment and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon and means for causing said gripper to force the lasted shoe against said abutment, a signal, a stop for limiting movement of said shoe-holding device with the lasted shoe, said stop comprising interengaging elements on said device and frame respectively, and an operative connection between said elements and said signal for actuating the signal when said elements interengage.

10. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame, a shoeholding device guided by said frame for movement towards and from the machine, said de- 'vice comprising an abutment engageable by a lasted shoe, 2. last-gripper movably mounted in relation to said abutment and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon and means for causing said gripper to force the lasted shoe against said abutment, an element movable under the influence of said shoe-holding device, an adjustable limit stop element engageable by said movable element to limit movement of said device, and a signal operatively connected with at least one of said elements for actuation thereby on engagement therebetween.

11. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame, a movfor causing said gripper to force the lasted shoe able shoe-holding device guided by said frame, said device comprising an abutment, a last-gripper movably mounted in relation to said abutment. and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon and means for causing said gripper to force the lasted shoe against said abutment, and a stop device for limiting movement of said shoeholding device with the lasted shoe, said stop device comprising a striker moving with said shoe-holding device and a co-operating limit s op.

12. In a heel seat forming machine adapted to receive a lasted shoe and having a frame, a movable shoe-holding device guided by said frame, said device comprising a carrier guided by said frame, a support in the carrier to move in a direction transverse to the movement thereof, an abutment mounted on said support and engageable by a lasted shoe, a last-gripper movably mounted on said support in relation to said abutment and adapted to engage a last having a shoe thereon and means for causing said gripper to force the lasted shoe against said abutment, a striker mounted on said carrier, a mov- 

